The second of today’s NRL Round 5 matches is between New Zealand Warriors and South Sydney Rabbitohs. The game is set to commence at 4pm local time and 12 noon AEST with the game to be played at Mt Smart Stadium. The away team South Sydney Rabbitohs are the current favourites in the market. View our game preview and teams for the match between New Zealand Warriors and South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Mt Smart Stadium
Sunday 4pm (NZ time)
Odds:
New Zealand Warriors $3.30 vs South Sydney Rabbitohs $1.35 at Sportsbet Australia
New Zealand Warriors $3.40 vs South Sydney Rabbitohs $1.33 at Luxbet Australia
Preview:
Watch Out Rabbitohs: If last week’s performance by the Warriors was anything to go by they are gradually starting to return to a style of play similar to that which was on display during their run to the 2011 grand final – lots of second-phase play and the targeting of the opposition big men through the middle by the likes of Shaun Johnson and Kevin Locke.
The Warriors offloaded nine times against North Queensland but it was Feleti Mateo’s three offloads that were particularly pleasing given his status as one of the game’s top offloaders. Notably, Mateo didn’t produce a single offload in the Warriors’ loss to Cronulla a week earlier but they looked a lot more dangerous with him looking to promote the football.
Plays To Watch: The Warriors’ wingers can’t afford to come in too quickly against the Rabbitohs because if there is one man that has demonstrated the ability to punish them this season it is Adam Reynolds.
Reynolds’ short-kicking game is one of his great strengths and he also boasts the ability to summarise his options and adjust on the run. In fact, he has set up two almost identical tries this season with unexpected cross-field chips. The first came in the 14-12 win over Cronulla in Round 2 when the Rabbitohs put on a second-man play out to the right only for Reynolds to put the ball on the boot when he saw Andrew Everingham unmarked out wide. The second came against the Bulldogs last week with a superb set move that saw Greg Inglis switch play to the left and John Sutton turn the ball back inside for Reynolds who caught the Canterbury defence napping with his pinpoint chip for Nathan Merritt to score. Warriors beware.
Key Match-Up: Shaun Johnson v Adam Reynolds. So much hinges on the performances of these two on Sunday.
Johnson in particular is the man who can spark the Warriors to life. At his best he drives defensive lines mad with his quick stepping and ability to have the big men clutching at thin air. His second-half try against North Queensland last week was certainly a throw-back to better days across the Tasman.
Reynolds has the benefit of more match-winners alongside him but it is his composure that has pulled this side together. His ability to take control of the situation will make life difficult for the Warriors.
Where It Will Be Won: This promises to be one of the more physical clashes of the season given the size of the respective forward packs. In particular Ben Matulino, Sam Rapira and Jacob Lillyman – who has returned to the back row in recent weeks – are no shrinking violets. But whether they can contain a giant South Sydney pack that boasts the Burgess brothers, Roy Asotasi and powerful second-row duo Ben Te’o and Chris McQueen is another question altogether.
The History: Played 25; Warriors 18, Rabbitohs 7. The Warriors have won five of the past nine clashes, including four of the past five!
Match Officials: Referees – Jared Maxwell & Dave Munro; Sideline Officials – Dan Eastwood & Shane Rehm; Video Referee – Steve Chiddy & Luke Patten.
Televised: Fox Sports 1 – Live 2pm AEST.
The Way We See It: To be honest, it’s hard to see the Warriors winning this one. Despite snapping their 11-game losing streak with a surprise win over North Queensland and boasting a formidable home-ground record over this week’s opponent, Souths are a well-drilled outfit in 2013, feature weapons right across the park and are in ominous form with four wins from as many starts. That’s not to say that the Warriors don’t have the firepower to strike back but they are yet to put in anywhere near an 80-minute performance this season and that’s what they’ll need to do if they are to make it two wins in a row. We tip the Rabbitohs by 12 points.
Teams:
New Zealand Warriors:
Kevin Locke, Bill Tupou, Dane Nielsen, Konrad Hurrell, Ngani Laumape, Thomas Leuluai, Shaun Johnson, Sam Rapira, Nathan Friend, Ben Matulino, Feleti Mateo, Simon Mannering (c), Todd Lowrie
Interchange: Jacob Lillyman, Ben Henry, Eligah Taylor, Pita Godinet, Glen Fisiiahi, Manu Vatuvei, Sebastine Ikahihifo (three to be omitted).
South Sydney Rabbitohs:
Greg Inglis, Nathan Merritt, Dylan Farrell, Bryson Goodwin, Andrew Everingham, John Sutton, Adam Reynolds, Dave Tyrell, Issac Luke, Roy Asotasi, Chris McQueen, Ben Te’o, Sam Burgess
Interchange: Nathan Peats, Jeff Lima, Ben Lowe, George Burgess, Michael Crocker, Justin Hunt, Jason Clark (three to be omitted).
